Brent crude oil prices resumed their climb Tuesday after retreating slightly when President Donald Trump said that "trade and investment deals" into the U.S. by Persian Gulf countries would replace the 20% toll on shipping he announced on Monday for cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
"Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future," he wrote on Truth Social.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office while meeting with Iraq's new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, Trump said he changed his mind after he was contacted by Gulf state leaders who offered to invest "billions and billions of dollars" in the U.S. instead.
The announcement came hours before the U.S. struck Iran for the fourth night in a row Tuesday, according to Centcom. The U.S. is also set to restart a blockade of shipping traffic in and out of Iranian ports in the strait tonight.
"These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," U.S. Central Command said in a post on X.
Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, settled up 2.6% to $84.73 a barrel Tuesday, for their highest settle price since June 15, two days before the U.S. and Iran signed a memo of understanding aimed at ending the hostilities on a temporary basis while a long term deal was negotiated. Meanwhile West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S benchmark, rose 1.5% to $79.34 a barrel for their highest settle price since June 12. Brent is up 16% in July, while WTI has risen 14%.
The renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have sparked fears of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to remain elevated and putting further strain on global supplies.
Kpler's MarineTraffic data service reported that just 10 commercial vessels crossed the strait on Monday, the lowest since just before the U.S. and Iran signed a memo of understanding aimed at reopening the strait and pausing hostilities.
Brent crude futures surged around 10% on Monday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. naval blockade of the strait would be reinstated following the recent escalation of strikes between the two countries. At the time, he also said non-Iranian ships would have to pay a 20% fee on cargo passing through the key oil shipping route.
"The Strait of Hormuz is once again a dangerous flashpoint and fast becoming a highly expensive one," Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at U.K. broker Wealth Club, said. "Inflationary pressures are beginning to build again, with oil and gas prices shooting higher just as investors prepare for the latest snapshot of U.S. consumer prices," she added.
Write to Anita Hamilton at anita.hamilton@barrons.com and Callum Keown at callum.keown@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 14, 2026 16:12 ET (20:12 GMT)
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